IV: 1-3. Just at this point in Peter's discourse: (1) "_ And while they were speaking to the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them,_ (2) _being indignant that they taught the people, and preached, through Jesus, the resurrection from the dead._ (3) _An... [ Continue Reading ]
IV: 1-3. Just at this point in Peter's discourse: (1) "_ And while they were speaking to the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them,_ (2) _being indignant that they taught the people, and preached, through Jesus, the resurrection from the dead._ (3) _An... [ Continue Reading ]
4. The audience who had been listening to Peter must have been thrown into intense excitement by the arrest, and the disciples among them, doubtless, expected to see re-enacted, in the persons of Peter and John, the murderous scenes which had terminated the life of their master. Notwithstanding this... [ Continue Reading ]
5, 6. The prisoners having been arrested late in the afternoon, all further proceedings were adjourned till the next day, and Peter and John had the quiet of a night in prison for reflection and mutual encouragement ere they were brought to trial. (5) "_ And it came to pass on the morrow, that their... [ Continue Reading ]
7. When the court was assembled, the prisoners were introduced, and the cripple, who had been healed had the boldness to appear by their side. (7) "_ And placing them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have you done this? "_ This is not the first time that Peter and John had b... [ Continue Reading ]
8-10. They could not, however, have asked a question which suited Peter any better. It left him at liberty to select any thing he had done as the subject of reply, and, therefore, he chose to select that deed, which, of all that had been done, they were most unwilling to hear mentioned. He frames hi... [ Continue Reading ]
11, 12. Realizing the advantage which he had now gained, Peter pushes his adversaries into still closer quarters, by adding: (11) "_ This is the stone which was despised by you builders, which has become the head of the corner._ (12) _Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is no other na... [ Continue Reading ]
13, 14. Instead of answering evasively and timidly, as was expected of men in their social position, when arraigned in such a presence, the apostles had unhesitatingly avowed the chief deed of yesterday's proceedings, with the name in which it had been done, stating all in the terms most obnoxious t... [ Continue Reading ]
15, 16. Finally, the silence was broken by a proposition that the prisoners be withdrawn. (15) "_ And having commanded them to go aside out of the Sanhedrim, they conferred among themselves,_ (16) _saying, What shall we do to these men? For that, indeed, a noted miracle has been wrought by them, is... [ Continue Reading ]
17. The real motive which controlled them, and under the influence of which they kept each other in countenance, was an unconquerable desire to maintain their old influence with the people. This is manifested in the conclusion to which they came. (17) "_ But, that it may be spread no further among t... [ Continue Reading ]
18. The resolution was no sooner formed than acted upon. (18) "_ And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all, nor teach in the name of Jesus. " How Luke learned the particulars of the secret consultation which resulted in this injunction, we are not informed, though it is not diffic... [ Continue Reading ]
19, 20. The apostles, if at all anxious concerning their personal safety, might have received this stern command in silence, and retired respectfully from the assembly. (19) "_ But, Peter and John answered and said to them, Whether it is right, in the sight of God, to hearken to you rather than to G... [ Continue Reading ]
21, 22. It was a sore trial to the haughty spirits of the Sanhedrim to brook such defiance; but a desire to conciliate the people, mingled, no doubt, with a secret fear of the consequences of putting to death men who had exercised such power, restrained their wrath. (21) "_ And when they had further... [ Continue Reading ]
23-30. The apostles had now humbled the pride of their adversaries, and went away from the assembly in triumph. But they were uninflated by their present prosperity, as they had been undaunted by their recent danger. They had now attained that lofty degree of faith and hope which enables men to main... [ Continue Reading ]
31. The prayer for boldness was answered at once, and in the way they had requested. (31) "_ And when they had prayed, the place in which they were assembled together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and spoke the word of God with boldness. " The shaking of the house, atten... [ Continue Reading ]
32-35. From this brief account of the first conflict of the young congregation, Luke again turns, to view more minutely the internal condition of the Church. Their religious life was now more fully developed, than at the period glanced at in the close of the second chapter, and his description is mo... [ Continue Reading ]
36, 37. After stating that many brethren who had property sold it, and gave up the proceeds, Luke now gives an individual instance of this liberality, introduced, no doubt, on account of the subsequent celebrity of the individual. (36) "_ Now Joses, who was surnamed Barnabas by the apostles, (which... [ Continue Reading ]